Combined can opener and can perforator



J. L. DONAT COMBINED CAN OPENER AND CAN PERFORATOR June 9, 1936.

Filed April 24, 1935 23 Egg 29 "T jllfi llfur" 7 J 5 pfilZiwua Patented June 9, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIQE COMBINED CAN OPENER. AND CAN PERFORATOR 3 Claims.

This invention relates to combined can openers and can perforators, and its principal object is to provide a simple and practical tool whereby the ends of tin cans may be cut out and whereby perforations may be made in the ends of tin cans.

Another object is to provide a can opener with means to grip the rim of a tin can, in connection with a knife blade, and means to thrust the blade into the can end, and other means to rotate the can so that the knife blade cuts the can end along a circular line adjacent the rim.

Another object is to provide a can perforator in connection with adjustable means for holding tall and short tin cans in proper position to be acted upon by the perforating tool, whereby the ends of both tall and short cans may be perforated with the device.

Other objects and advantages will appear in the course of this specification and with such objects and advantages in view, this invention consists in the several novel features of construction, arrangement and combination of parts, hereinafter fully set forth and claimed.

The invention is clearly illustrated in the drawing accompanying this specification, in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan of a combined can opener and can perforator embodying a simple form of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a View of the device, partly in front elevation and partly in vertical section, taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, and illustrating a tin can in position to be opened;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the device looking in the direction of the arrow 3 in Fig. l; and

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the device looking in the direction of the arrow 4 in Fig. 1.

Referring to said drawing, the reference character 5 designates a supporting bracket, desirably composed of a piece of sheet metal struck up with suitable dies to form substantially the irregular outline best illustrated in Fig. 3. At its rear edge the bracket 5 is formed with two oppositely directed, transversely and vertically extending wings 6, having perforations therein through which screws may be passed to fasten the device to a wall or other support. The can opener mechanism is disposed on one side of the bracket 5 and the can perforating mechanism is disposed on the other side thereof.

A horizontally extending flange l is formed at the upper end of the bracket at its forward edge, said flange being desirably formed by bending up the metal of the bracket and doubling it upon itself to provide a double thickness for the flange, the two thicknesses being fastened together by a screw 8. (See Fig. 2.)

Below the flange i is a carrier 9, which is slidably guided for vertical movement upon the bracket, by lugs Hi, struck up from the metal of the bracket. Said carrier is desirably formed from a strip of metal folded upon itself to provide a horizontally extending flange H and the two end portions then bent downward to form two forks l 2, 13, one of which carries or is formed with a sharpened knife blade Hi.

. Journaled upon the bracket 5 and carrier respectively, are two rim gripping discs H3, H5,

which are preferably beveled as shown, and;

formed with sharp teeth upon their peripheral edges. The disc l5is rigidly mounted upon an arbor or shaft ii, journaled in the bracket 5,

and the disc 15 is rigidly mounted upon an arbor or shaft i8 journaled in the forks l2, it of the carrier.

A crank arm I8 is rigidly connected with one of the discs for the purpose of rotating the same and, as shown, said arm is rigidly connected to the arbor 33 of the disc [6. In situations where the crank arm is connected to the upper disc l6, a vertically extending slot 28 is provided in the bracket 5 to permit movement of the arbor I8 in a vertical direction.

Adjustment means are provided for raising and lowering the carrier 9 and, as shown, said means comprises an adjustment screw 2 I, threadedly mounted in the flange l and connected to the flange I l of the carrier, as by a reduced neck 22, which extends through a hole in the flange II and is headed down upon the under side thereof. It is obvious that by turning the adjustment screw in one direction the carrier will be raised, and that by turning it in the other it will be lowered.

Adjacent the lower disc I5, the bracket 5 is struck up to provide a number of laterally projecting lugs 23, which serve to engage the side of a can 24 while the can opening operation is being performed.

In operation, the carrier is raised sufficiently to permit the rim of a tin can to be inserted be-- tween the edges of the discs [5, I6, after which the adjustment screw is turned down to bring the two discs into gripping engagement with the rim of the can and to thrust the knife blade through the can end 25. The crank arm is then rotated, thereby rotating the disc l6, which in turn rotates the can, bringing the can end thereof across the knife blade. The can may be rotated as far as is desired so as to slit only a portion of the can end thereof, or to cut away the entire can end. When the cutting operation has been performed, the adjustment screw is turned back, thereby releasing the rim from the discs and withdrawing the knife blade, after which the can is removed.

The lower edge of the bracket, below the can opening. mechanism, is formed with. a notch 42, which provides a hook-like formation, that serves as a bottle cap remover. This feature is optional.

Pivotally mounted upon ears 26, formed at the top of the bracket 5, is a perforating tool 21, which is desirably formed from-a. strip of metal, doubled upon itself, as shown in Fig. 1, and having a thin metal strip 28 fastened between the two sides 29, which strip is formed with two downwardly projecting pointed :teeth 30. The two sides 29, and strip 28, may be fastened together by rivets or the like 3|. The two sides .29 project beyond the strip 21 and provide a handle 32, by means of which the perforating tool may be manipulated.

.Directly below the perforating tool is a shelf or rest 33, adapted to receive and holda tin can in position while its end is being perforated. De-

sirably upstanding marginal lugs 34 are formed upon the shelf to prevent a can from slipping off the shelf. The shelf is adjustably supported upon the bracket 5, whereby it may accommodate tall or short tin cans tothe perforating tool. As shown, the shelf is provided With an upstanding arm 35 which extends along the side of an upright portion 36 of the bracket 5.

A headed pin 31, secured in the part 36 of the bracket,-ad justably supports the shelf and, as shown, the

stem of the pin 31 extends through an irregular can, the shelf is moved upward to bring the lower upwardly turned end 4| of the slot 38 into engagement with the stem of the pin 31. Perforations are made in can ends by swinging the perforating tool down into the position seen in Fig. 2, thereby thrusting the pointed blades through the can end.

It is possible to use the can opener without the can perforating feature, and for certain purposes, all of the bracket, except that part supporting the discs and carrier, may be omitted if desired.

.1 claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

.1. In .aucanperforator, the combination of a bracket, a perforating tool pivotally connected therewith ,and having downwardly projecting pointed blades, and a shelf for supporting a can below said perforating tool, said shelf having an upstanding slotted arm, and the bracket having a headed pin extending through said slot, and havbracket extending through said slot and arranged to support the shelf .in a plurality of positions below the perforating tool.

3. The combination of a supporting bracket, a

can perforating tool pivotally connected thereto K and formed with pointed blades, a shelf below 5 saidperforating tool, said shelf having an upstanding vertically slotted arm arranged contiguous with the bracket, the slot terminating in laterally ofiset ends, and a headed pin on the bracket extending through said slot and arranged to support the shelf in a plurality of positions below the perforating tool, there being a vertical flange on the bracket overhanging one edge portion of the arm.

JOSEPH L. DONAT. 

